Police, community and calendar briefs for March 9, 2013

Published: Friday, March 8, 2013 at 8:57 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 8, 2013 at 8:57 p.m.

A 27-year-old Ocala woman was charged with arson after she reportedly burned some documents inside a cell at a state Department of Corrections facility.

Jhodi Marie Carter was booked into the Marion County Jail on Thursday.

On Jan. 7, a State Fire Marshals Office investigator was called to the Lowell Correctional Institution north of Ocala about a broken sprinkler head in a cell on Jan. 4.

Investigations showed the sprinkler was activated as a result of toilet paper being wrapped around the sprinkler head and a fire being set. Officials said the only person in the cell was Carter. They said she attended a disciplinary hearing on Jan. 3, which resulted in an extension of her incarceration, which had been set to end on Friday. During their investigation, a burnt portion of the disciplinary report was recovered inside the cell, reports state.

Carter refused to talk with the fire investigator. A warrant for her arrest was obtained and she was charged with arson and was brought from the DOC facility to the jail.

State records show Carter was incarcerated for lewd and lascivious battery on a victim younger than 16 and interference with child custody.

COMMUNITY

Lottery event Saturday includes music, prizes

The Florida Lottery will be at The Villages from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Paddock Square in Brownwood, with a 7 p.m. performance by the 1950s doo-wop group The Flamingos.

Liberty Community Park at 10575 SW 57th Terrace, Ocala, will temporarily close beginning Monday, through April 30, for scheduled improvements.

The project includes parking lot paving, playground expansion and construction of a 6-foot-wide, paved walking trail, a multi-purpose open area and stormwater management facilities.

For more information, call 671-8560.

SCORE workshop to help entrepreneurs test ideas

The Ocala/The Villages branch of SCORE is holding a workshop at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Ocala/Marion Chamber & Economic Partnership building, 310 SE Third St., Ocala, to help entrepreneurs test new ideas.

The Interfaith Alliance of Marion County will discuss “Empathy — Is it hardwired in humans or can it be developed?” at their next potluck luncheon women’s gathering at 11:30 a.m. on March 20 at the Unity Church, 101 Cedar Road, Ocala.